Disability Rights UK E-Newsletter 26 November 2018

Disability Rights UK news

Our free newsletter keeps you up to date with the work we do and the work of our members.

Right to Participate project: Our Right to Participate project aims to increase awareness of the Equality Act, especially the ways it can protect disabled people from discrimination in everyday situations.

Take Action – read how you can assert your rights in everyday situations.

Stories – read how disabled people have faced discrimination and what they’ve done about it.

Share your story – your story, your way. Whether it’s text, audio, video or image share a story with us and help empower other disabled people to take action.

MPs say delay the vote on the next phase of Universal Credit: The Work and Pensions Committee says the Government must delay the vote on the next phase of Universal Credit until both its own Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) and Parliament have had a chance to assess the Government’s plans. Read more and see what DR UK recommends

Nine more things you must do to be an exceptional leader: In the second of a two-part blog series Kate Nash OBE, a former CEO of one of the legacy organisations of DR UK, and now Ambassador, shares with us the things she has learnt about great leaders working in disability rights. Read blog

Policy Pathways to Justice in Energy Efficiency launch and event: The findings from ‘Policy Pathways to Justice in Energy Efficiency ’is to be launched in Parliament at an event hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Intelligent Energy and the All Party Parliamentary Fuel Poverty & Energy Efficiency Group (FPEEG). DR UK Deputy CEO Sue Bott, is one of the speakers. Tuesday 11 December 2.00 – 4.00pm, Committee Room 6, House of Commons. Find out more

Members, projects and partners

Tell us about your care: Recently visited your GP or been to hospital? We would like to hear about your experience! Phone 0330 995 0400 or go here

DR UK Fundraising, products and training courses

Why not use Amazon Smile or easyfundraising for your Christmas shopping: Disability Rights UK has signed up to both AmazonSmile and easyfundraising. Shop using either of these and a percentage of what you spend is passed to Disability Rights UK at no additional cost to you – you still get the same great deals.

Factsheets, Guides and Information: For further information on welfare rights, education issues and social care you will find our factsheets/guides here or for more detailed information you can order a copy of the Disability Rights Handbook from our shop

Free training on Inclusive Practice in careers: Disability Rights UK is offering a free one-day training day designed for school careers advisers, coordinators and school careers leaders in Birmingham on 15 January 2019. The training is for those who wish to develop their understanding of disability equality and enhance their skills to support disabled learners with careers guidance and careers planning. Find out more

Other news

Disability History Month, 19th November to 22nd December: This year it focuses on Disability and Music. Here’s a selection of famous disabled musicians and performers…

Connee Boswell – who contracted polio and remained a popular artist by concealing her disability

Rahsaan Roland Kirk – he was blind, could play three saxophones at once and relearned the saxophone after a paralysing stroke

Thomas Quasthoff – he has birth defects as a result of thalidomide but is a world renowned classical singer – well worth a listen

Tony Iommi – Guitarist who chopped two fretting finger tips off whilst working in a factory, replaced them with fairy liquid caps and found fame with Black Sabbath

Everyone Can survey on leisure sector provision for disabled people:Everyone Can is a new campaign led by Sport England, ukactive and several leading disability organisations. Everyone Can would like to change perceptions about disabled peoples’ participation in physical activity and support the leisure sector to become more inclusive. ukactive and Sport England would value your professional input into a survey to learn more about how the Leisure Sector currently provides for disabled people.

UK Career Development Awards 2019: This is a great opportunity to celebrate and showcase the very best UK-wide practice in career development. The closing date for entries is Monday 31 December at 17.15. Find out more about the awards

First trials of self-driving vehicle services: in 2021, people in London and Edinburgh are set to be the first to trial self-driving vehicle services. There will be an autonomous bus service across the Forth Bridge from Fife to Edinburgh, and self-driving taxi services in London. Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark said: “Autonomous vehicles…. will open up and improve transport services for those who struggle to access both private and public transport.” Fingers crossed. Read more

Vital tech – assistive technology for visually impaired people: A new website called Vital Tech (www.vitaltech.org.uk), has been designed by a team of blind and partially sighted people to offer impartial and straightforward guidance through the world of assistive and inclusive tech for blind and partially sighted people in the UK. Vital Tech provides an overview of useful tech for a variety of home activities, from household chores and organising to staying in touch and relaxing. The Vital Tech team would love to hear from you, particularly if there’s a product or service you’re using which others could benefit from knowing about. You can contact the team by emailing contact@vitaltech.org.uk

2019 Benefit and Pension rates published: So far we have the Benefit and pension rates from April 2019 to 2020. As other rates are published (Tax Credits, Child Benefit, Tax and NI etc.) we will put them on our website here

Jobs and grants

Princess Alice Hospice has jobs for you: Princess Alice Hospice is a centre of excellence for palliative and end of life care. Based in Esher, with over 50 shops trading around South West London, Surrey and Middlesex, they care for approximately 800 people in their catchment area at any one time. If you have the skills and compassion they are looking for, you could join them. They will support you every step of the way in one of the most fulfilling jobs you’ll ever do. Find out more